Bag top closure with carrying handle



March 20, 1962 F. HOPKINS BAG TOP CLOSURE WITH CARRYING HANDLE l t e e u a l a G e mm 5 F 3 a n B MW a. w IL 1 3/ 2 5 PI Filed May 11, 1959 INVENTOR. FRANKL HOPKINS wax-M ATToR/VEYJ March 20, 1962 F. HOPKINS BAG TOP CLOSURE WITH CARRYING HANDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1959 IN VENTOR. FRANKL fioPK/Ns March 20, 1962 F. L. HOPKINS BAG TOP CLOSURE WITH CARRYING HANDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 11, 1959 FIG. ll

FIG. 14

INVENTOR. FRANK L./1oPK/Ns BY ATTQR EYJ United States Patent Gfifice 3,026,017 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 3,026,017 BAG TOP CLOSURE WITH CARRYING HANDLE Frank L. Hopkins, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Missouri Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,379 3 Claims. (til. 229-65) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bag top closures, and more particularly to such a closure having a carrying handle embodied therein.

Various products are now packaged in flexible walled bags or containers. When such a bag has been filled, the top wall portions which define the mouth of the bag are usually pressed into flatwise relation, and may then be secured together by various means such as sewing, pasting, stapling, or by a combination of such methods. Bag tops which are so closed cannot readily be opened Without tearing the bag walls. When this occurs, it may become diflicult to so close the bag as to assure complete protection to the contents remaining in the bag body.

The present invention is directed to a bag top closure which is so constructed that the bag top may readily be alternately opened and closed a number of times without danger of the bag top becoming leaky with a possible dec ten'oration of the contents of the bag.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind which is extremely simple and inexpensive to fabricate,

and which may readily be manipulated to open or close the bag top with a minimum of effort.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a combined carrying device and bag top closure comprising an elongated rigid member formed from a blank of sheet material folded upon itself to provide a pair of longitudinally extending parallel bag top receiving channels extending the length of the member, said channels being interconnected at their upper ends to permit the transversely folded bag top walls to be fitted into said channels.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrying device for a flexible walled bag comprising an elongated hollow member into which the transversely folded wall portions of the bag top may be inserted to seal the bag top, said carrying device greatly facilitating the operation of carrying a filled or partially filled bag from place to place, and at the same time providing a readily openable closure for the bag top.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanynig drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE =1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a filled bag, showing the combination carrying device and bag top closure member applied thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the carrying device partially detached from the bag to FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing a means for preventing the carrying device from relatively shifting its position on the bag top;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, minus the bag top and carrying handle;

FIGURE 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the carrying device removed from the bag top;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view showing a slightly modified construction;

FIGURE 9 is an end view of FIGURE 8, on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, on an enlarged scale, showing one of the legs of the carrying handle provided with a depending extension cooperable with a V-shaped notch in the top edge of the intermediate wall of the handle-supporting member to secure said member against relative longitudinal movement on the bag top;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the right hand end of FIGURE 10, showing the V-shaped notch in the upper edge of the intermediate wall;

FIGURE 12 is a detail sectional view on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 10, showing the handle supporting member secured to the bag top by a small amount of adhesive;

FIGURE 14 is a detail sectional view on the line 14-44 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary view showing a modified construction, wherein a short length of tape is adhesively applied to each end of the closure strip; and

FIGURE 16 is an end view of FIGURE 15.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1, for purposes of disclosure a container or bag body, generally designated by the numeral 2. The upper end portions of the walls of the bag body which cooperate to define the bag mouth, are flexible to permit them to be pressed into flatwise relation and transversely folded in the initial step of closing and sealing the bag top.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of an elongated rigid-like member adapted to be fitted over the transversely folded upper marginal edge portions of the bag top walls to retain them in seal-tight relation, when the open bag top is closed, as will subsequently be described.

The elongated member, designated by the reference character 3, may be inexpensively fabricated from a blank of sheet material such as metal, plastic, or the like. The blank is longitudinally folded upon itself to provide outer walls '4 and 5, and an intermediate upright wall 6. The intermediate wall 6 divides the interior of the member 3 into two elongated channels 7 and 8, extending the length of the member.

The upper edge 9 of the intermediate wall 6 is spaced downwardly from the top wall 11 of member 3 to provide a connecting passage 12 between the the upper ends of channels 7 and 8, as best illustrated in FIGURE 5.

To facilitate carrying a filled bag, which in some instances may weigh up to thirty pounds, member 3 is pro-. vided with a carrying handle, generally designated by the numberal 13, shown comprising a horizontal grip portion 14- and spaced legs 15 and 16. The legs are provided at their lower terminals with inturned hooks 17 adapted to be received in suitable apertures 18 and 19 provided in the upper semi-cylindrical wall 11 of member 3.

To prevent relative longitudinal movement of the handle 13 on member 3-, aperture 18 is shown circular in configuration, its diameter being such as to permit the hook 17 to be readily inserted thereinto. The aperture 19 at the opposite end of member 3 is elongated so that the hook 17 of handle leg 16 may be inserted thereinto in the operation of attaching the handle 13 to member 3, as will readily be understood by reference to FIGURE 7. To attach the handle 13 to member 3, it is necessary to slightly outwardly flex or spread legs and 16 from one another, as indicated by the dotted line in FIGURE 7.

The handle is so fashioned that when operatively engaged with member 3 the hook like terminals 17 thereof will exert an inward pressure against the walls of their respective apertures 18 and 19, whereby the handle can not accidentally become detached from the member 3. It may, however, be readily detached therefrom by first disengaging hook 17 from its aperture 19 and then disengaging the other hook 17 from its aperture 18', as will readily be understood. If desired, a suitable sleeve 21 may be fitted over the horizontal finger engaging portion 14 of the carrying handle 13, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The ends of the intermediate wall member 6 are preferably inwardly inclined, as indicated at 212 in FIGURE 7, to facilitate sliding the transversely folded bag top walls into the channels 7 and 8, and the connecting passage 12 of member 3.

To receive the handle supporting member 3, the bag top walls are pressed into fiatwise relation and the upper marginal edge portions thereof are then transversely folded upon themselves into a double fold, as indicated in FIGURE 2, along fold lines and 23. The transversely folded bag top walls may then readily be inserted into the channels 7 and 8, as will be understood by reference to FIGURES 2 and 3.

When sliding member 3 onto the transversely folded bag top, wall portions 24 are received in channel 8, and the upper flattened wall portions 2 5' of the bag body are received in channel 7'; and passes thru connecting passage 12 between the upper ends of channels 7 and 8. See FIGURE 3.

To prevent the elongated handle supporting member 3 from relatively shifting its position along the folded bag top, the outer walls 4 and 5 may be formed with small indentations 26, as indicated in FIGURES l and 4. When the member 3 is to be used on bags of the intuck type, the indentations 26 are spaced inwardly from the ends of the member a distance to clear the inner edges 28 of the intucked walls of the bag top, as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6. By thus indenting the outer walls 4 and 5 of member 3, such indentations will slightly depress the outer wall portions of the transversely folded top.

walls, as indicated in FIGURES 4 and 6, whereby the member 3 will not longitudinally shift its position upon the closed bag top.

In some instances it may be found more desirable to slightly indent the opposed walls 4 and 5 at their extreme ends, as indicated at 29 in FIGURES 8 and 9. To prevent damaging the bag top walls, when sliding member 3 thereonto, the lower marginal edge portion of wall 4 is preferably slightly outwardly flared, as indicated at 30.

In FIGURES 10, l1 and 12 there is shown another method of securing the elongated handle supporting member 3 against longitudinal movement on the bag top. In the form here shown the intermediate wall member '6 is shown provided with a V-shaped notch 31 in its upper edge adjacent to the elongated aperture 19' in member 3. V-shaped notch 31 is adapted to receive portions of the transversely folded wall portions, as shown in FIGURES 10 and 12, when the handle 13 is in its operative position.

To thus force portions of the bag top walls into the V-shaped notch 31, a depending extension 32. is formed on the lower end of leg 16 of handle 13. This extension is of such length that when the handle is in the position shown in FIGURE 10, it will engage and press portions of the folded bag top into the V-shaped notch 31, whereby the handle supporting member 3 is positively locked against longitudinal movement upon the bag top. When the hook-shaped terminal 17 of leg 16 is withdrawn from its aperture 19, member 3 may readily be detached from the bag top in the manner indicated in FIGURE 2*. The V-shaped notch 31 is so located with respect to aperture 19, that the extension 32 of the handle leg 16 may readily be inserted into depressing engagement with the bag top walls, as shown in FIGURE 10.

Another method of securing the handle supporting member 3 to the folded bag top walls is illustrated in FIGURES l3 and 14. As here shown, a small amount of liquid adhesive is dropped through the elongated aperture in member 3, into the space between wall member 4 and the adjacent bag top wall, as indicated at 33 in FIGURES 13 and 14.

In FIGURES l5 and 16 there is shown another method of preventing the closure member from sliding longitudinally on the bag top, when the latter is closed. As here shown, a strip of tape 34 is applied over each end of the closure member 3 and may be secured thereto by a suitable adhesive.

To facilitate removal of the closure strip 3 by a housewife, when the bag top is subsequently to be opened, strips of masking tape may be utilized which, as is well known in the trade, has a tacky surface which may be repeatedly bonded to a smooth surface by pressure, and may as readily be detached therefrom without destroying the tape.

When strips of masking tape are utilized for securing the closure strip in position on the bag top, the indentations 26 and 29, FIGURES 7 and 8, and V-shaped notch 31 and handle extension 32, FIGURES l0 and 11, may be dispensed with, as will be understood. In some instances, the frictional engagement of the walls of the closure member 3 with the transversely folded bag top walls may be suflicient to prevent accidental shifting of the closure member on the bag top.

The novel combined bag top closure and carrying device .herein disclosed is extremely simple and inexpensive in construction, whereby it may be fabricated in mass production at very low cost. Its construction is such that the weight of the bag body is uniformly distributed along the entire length of the bag top and handle supporting member 3, by reason of the bag top being folded over the intermediate upright wall 6 of member 3. Furthermore, its cross-sectional shape is such that it may readily be slid onto the transversely folded bag top or removed therefrom by a housewife in the operation of closing the bag top or opening it, without danger of tearing the bag top walls. It also assures an air-tight seal when in closing position on the bag top.

The bag top walls may be transversely folded along fold lines 20 and 23 by conventional bag top folding mechanism, after the bag has been filled, and may then be directed into the channels 7 and 8 of the handle supporting member 3, as herein before stated. It assures a very neat, strong and sift proof closure for bags of the type herein disclosed. It is extremely economical in the operation of closing and sealing bag tops. It requires no sewing or stapling of the bag top walls, nor does it require the application of adhesive to retain the bag top walls in leak-tight relation, even when the bag top is frequently opened and closed by a housewife as hereinbefore stated.

The invention is applicable for use on single and multiple wall bag bodies, of both flat and intuck type bags. It has been found extremely popular when used in conjunction with bags of the larger sizes, weighing between fifteen and thirty pounds or more, used in the trade for packaging various products such as flour, soap, dog food, or any product which may be normally put into bags.

In some instances it may be found that the indentations 26 and 29, and the V-shaped notch 31 may be dispensed with particularly if the frictional engagement of the walls 4, S and 6 of member 3 with the bag top walls is found to be sufficient to retain member 3 in its proper position on the bag top.

It is apparent that many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A filled flexible walled bag body and closure and carrying member therefor, said bag having its top wall portions pressed into fiatwise relation and transversely folded upon themselves to provide a double fold extending the length of the bag top in the initial operation of closing the bag top; said closure member comprising an elongated body formed from a piece of thin rigid sheet material folded upon itself to provide a first and second outer longitudinal wall, said first and second outer longitudinal walls being generally parallel and of substantially uniform width and integrally connected together along their top edges by an upper semi-cyindrical top wall, and an intermediate upright longitudinal wall of lesser Width interposed between said outer walls and having its lower edge integrally secured to the lower edge of the second of said outer walls by a lower semi-cylindrical bottom wall; said intermediate wall lying between and being spaced from said outer walls to define a pair of parallel longitudinal double fold receiving channels of substantially uniform size, the first fold of said double folded bag top being positioned in the channel defined by said intermediate wall and the second of said outer walls and the semicylindrical bottom wall, the upper edge of said intermediate wall being spaced downwardly a considerable distance from said cylindrical top wall to provide an enlarged connecting passage between the upper portions of said parallel channels the length of said member, the other fold of said double folded bag top being positioned in said enlarged connecting passage extending around the upper edge of said intermediate wall and through said other channel defined by said intermediate wall and the first of said outer walls, said last named channel having an open throat along its bottom edge through which the bag body extends; at least one end of said intermediate wall being inclined inwardly from the bottom wall; a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures in the uppermost portion of the semi-cylindrical top wall of said closure member, and a carrying handle having depending legs provided at their lower ends with offset inturned terminals detachably secured to said member by insertion of said inturned terminals into said apertures; the upper edge of said intermediate wall being spaced downwardly from said cylindrical top wall a distance at least equal to the folded thickness of the bag top plus the diameter of the handle terminals; the transversely folded portions of the bag top Walls being freely received into the parallel channels of said closure member in slidable closing and sealing engagement therewith, whereby the semi-cylindrical top wall of said closure member completely conceals the transversely folded bag top walls and provides a neat and attractive bag top closure which is symmetrical about the median plane of the sealed bag top.

2. A filled flexible walled bag body and closure and carrying member therefor according to claim 1 further characterized in that said outer longitudinal walls of said closure member are provided with inwardly extending protrusions spaced inwardly from the ends and side edges of said walls for frictionally engaging the bag top walls to prevent longitudinal shifting of said closure member on the bag top.

3. A filled flexible walled bag body and closure and carrying member therefor according to claim 1 further characterized in that the end edges of the outer walls of said closure member are indented to frictionally engage the ends of the bag top walls to prevent longitudinal shifting of said closure member on the bag top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,526,78 2 Fleischer Feb. 17, 1925 1,977,492 Schaaf Oct. 16, 1934 2,021,609 Pippert Nov. 19, 1935 2,338,927 Gerendas Jan. 11, 1944 2,385,597 Allen Sept. 25, 1945 

